Safety cases for automated vehicles must address at least four essential topics to support a claim of acceptable safety: (1) the particular claims of safety being made, including what acceptably safe means for the system being discussed; (2) a well-reasoned argument encompassing assumptions, defeaters, and evidence that supports the claims; (3) reasons why a design team justifiably believes they meet the stated safety claims; and (4) reasons why external stakeholders should find the safety case credible. The structure of a sound safety case is likely to differ across design teams based on the specifics of the vehicle and its operational concept.